Everyone’s eyes furrowed further.

“Pardon?” The brown haired Elise said.

“Just like you, we are here on a mission as well.” Adrian rested his back on the crouch. “And for that, we need influence- the authority to move many people on our wills.”

“I do not know what your mission is and I was ordered not to ask.” Elise shook her head. “Even though we were commanded to follow you, I have to apologise.” Her black eyes turned serious as she looked right into the eyes of the young Royal Advisor.

“Oh, don’t worry. I don’t have any intentions of keeping the mission secret- at least not from the ones whom I’ll be working with.” He scanned through every members of the Blue Rose before fixing his gaze on the other pair of black eyes in the room.

She raised her brows.

“The downfall of Edenshield.” His voice was as casual as it could be.

*Gasp*

The sound of collective gasps filled the room. Everyone in the room, except the ever indifferent Irene and of course- Adrian, had their jaws dropped.

What followed the puffs of the occupants of the room was dead silence.

Elise, the ex-leader of the group, somehow composed herself. She did not laugh; she did not dare to. His answer lacked an iota of sarcasm.

“But-“

“None has ever done it before?” Adrian interrupted.

“Yes.” She answered.

“Has there ever been a Royal Advisor as young as me before?” He asked.

Elise remained silent.

“Has there ever been a complete wipeout at the Hunt before?” He continued.

Everyone’s eyes twitched, but Elise- she remained calm.

“You know where I am getting at, don’t you?”

Elise nodded in all seriousness. “Yes. There is always a first.”

“Good. But I am a fair de- official.” He coughed. “I cannot just take your service and give nothing in return, can I?”

“So, you are saying…”

“Yes. But my goal will be the priority. I will make sure you get what you want while we are at it. Any objections?” His dark eyes scanned through the room.

Everyone began to contemplate. But Asmond, the muscular young man, stepped forward with a wry smile.

“Even if we have any objections, does it matter?”

“Nope.” Adrian’s answer was direct.

“…”

“Ok then, seeing that not any of you have any objections- let’s proceed with our plans, shall we?” He clapped his hands twice as he darted his eyes through everyone. “But first things first, I believe we have yet to introduce ourselves.”

Elise turned to the seductive middle aged woman, her most trusted aide. “Don’t leave anything out.”

The madam stepped forward and curtsied. “I am Samira Nedal. I own the Pink Willows brothel at the red light district. I do it not for the business but for how convenient it is to gather information. Drunk men, both commoners and lower nobles, cannot keep their lips sealed especially if they are on heat.”

“Makes sense.” Adrian nodded. “But is it doing well?” He gave her a look.

She forced a smile on her beautiful face. “Compared to other brothels of the same size- yes. But unfortunately, people follow the majority, and the more powerful. The Grand Pearl takes majority of the higher noble customers. Hence, the lower nobles do not mind spending a few more golds to lick the higher ups while they play with the girls there.”

“To take in nobles- the higher ones, what do you need? After all, the information they could bring are leagues above the rumours you here from barons and peasants.”

“If I try hard enough, I can make sure that the Pink Willows will be the second best ‘playhouse’ in the city.” She said with confidence, but what followed was a sigh. “But I don’t think even that is enough for me to hook member of Count or Marquess households in- we don’t have the funds. And the most beautiful of girls are in control of the Black Skulls, the syndicate behind the Grand Pearl.”

“So, you are saying that no matter what you do, second place is the limit.” Adrian rubbed his chin.

“Yes.” She sighed. “I had visited there before, the suffix ‘Grand’ befits them.

“What if the Grand Pearl disappears?” He asked.

“Excuse me?” She furrowed her brows.

“What if… let’s say… the Grand Pearl never existed?” He raised his brows, his fingers still touching his chin.

“If that was the case, I am confident in my ability to even hook those aloof priests from the Church.”

Adrian smirked. “I will leave it to you then.” His eyes moved to Ley, the tanned petite girl.

“Yes.” She squinted and stepped back, not being able to get his last statement out of her mind.

“I am Ley.” The girl stepped forward. “They call me Ley the Thief.”

“But you aren’t a thief, are you?” Adrian looked into her brown eyes- the eyes that matched the colour of her skin.

“Yes.” She nodded. “I still people’s hearts… from their chest.”

“I like your hobby.” He smiled, causing her face to flinch. “Anyways, you are good. Seventy nine kills, and very few people actually know of you- a hallmark of a true assassin I say.” He praised.

Ley’s throat ran dry. All of the members of Blue Roses, including their previous leader, turned to her and scowled. Only her elder brother’s reaction was different. He only looked at Adrian with surprise in his eyes.

Seventy nine? Who were the other four?

“I… I…” Ley took a step back.

“Don’t worry.” Adrian shook his head. “What you did was right.” He assured.

She looked down and big her lips.

Adrian’s abyssal eyes moved to the one beside her, Caleb Hughes. But he just gave the mute man a glance before moving on to the young man wearing the black sleeveless shirt- Asmond.

Asmond appeared before him and bowed. “I am Asmond- Asmond the Mad they call me.”

“Mad?” Adrian smirked. “A proper title indeed. After all, not everyone can venture into the Northern Wilderness alone and live to tell the tale.”

“It has always been my dream since I was little to be an adventurer.” The muscular youth said. “And thanks to the blessings of Ervil, I was able to become one. I adventured everywhere- from the Confederation to the Empire. No stone was left unturned. I was getting bored. So…” A childish smile appeared on his face.

“And now, you joined the Blue Roses just because you thought that this would be fun- their mission, right?”

The smile on Asmond’s face brightened. “Yes. And thanks to you, Sir, that my stay here got even more fun.”

“Oh, trust me.” Adrian’s eyes glinted. “You won’t say the same if you see my true face.”

*Gulp*

Finally, Adrian turned to the scar faced man. The tall Halseed stepped forward.

“I am Halseed.” He bowed. “Halseed the Betrayer.” He said without a trace of guilt in his eyes.

“I did not call you a Rutonian for a reason.”

“And I thank you for that.”

“But remember, no matter what you do- revenge or whatever, your plans should not get in the way of mine, understood?”

“I assure you it will not.”

His abyssal eyes again met the pair of dark eyes of Elise. He smiled.

“May we have a successful venture together.”